Integrated, Reconfigurable Sensor Node with Localization Capability for the Recording of Measured Data and Social Interactions of Bats

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A central component of the bat localization project BATS is the mobile node which is mounted on the back of the bat itself. This subproject is concentrating on the CMOS integration of such a miniaturized mobile node. Therefore, problems regardingcircuit topologies, HW/SW partitioning and the communication protocol will be investigated with respect to the energy consumption and implemented in form of integrated circuits. The main focus is on enhancing energy efficiency, improving localization quality and robustness as well as on upgrading the sensor system capabilities. To improve the efficiency, the suitability of sub-vt and near-vt techniques for analog and RF circuits is analyzed. In addition, the power amplifier will be enhanced with a dynamic control of the output power. It will also become capable of transmitting multitone signals to improve accuracy and robustness of the localization. A specifically tuned near-vt logic library for digital circuits will be developed. Additional energy saving potential within the digital domain is provided by redefining the HW/SW interface. We will identify possibilities to replace software solutions by optimized hardware or provide proper hardware support for critical software components. The system will be upgraded with an interface to internal and external sensors to provide data concentration of a variety of information.Finally, a chip that is capable of executing data acquisition and communication will be manufactured and tested in the real world environment.